Tag Archives: College

Studying isn’t anyone’s favorite part of college. It is tedious, boring, and the material can be lengthy and overwhelming. Especially at this point in the semester, it can be intimidating to suddenly see all you have learned and now having to remember it all at once for a test. It seems everything comes down to studying. That kind of pressure can make students nervous, but don’t worry! There are plenty of ways to make studying less boring and to help you focus.

1. Candy

We’ve all seen the pictures of using gummy bears to mark each paragraph of text read. Finish a paragraph, eat a gummy bear. Use whatever candy you want – you may just find yourself reading faster! But do not eat that candy until you have reached the check point!

2. Race Yourself

Are you competitive? Ask yourself how fast you can finish studying a certain part of the material, set a timer, and race to beat your time. This will help you break you studying into chunks instead of feeling overwhelmed by the big picture and this will also help you manage your time. Do remember that it is still important to cover all the material you need to though.

3. Location

Often times we choose to study in places that will most likely sabotage us rather than help us succeed. If you pick a spot like your room, where a computer and TV are easily accessible, you’ll be tempted to check Facebook, turn on your favorite show, or start having a conversation with your roommate. If you can, try to study where electronics and people won’t be a distraction.

4. Inspiration

Places like coffee shops and libraries can be a great source of motivation to get your work done. The people there tend to be on a mission to get something done. Maybe it’s the music that plays quietly in the background or maybe it’s the dim lighting creating a cozy environment. Whatever it is, order a mocha and treat yourself to a brownie when you’ve finished.

5. Study Buddy

If you have a friend in the same class, recruit them to help you study. You can quiz each other on terms, math problems, history trivia, and even share notes. To make it even more fun, promise each other a reward when it’s all over. Having something to look forward to will make you study faster. Just be wise with who you choose as a study partner – do not pick someone who you know will not take it as seriously and could be more of a distraction. Bonus: Also pick a prize for getting a good grade on the final test, such as a new outfit or video game.

We are hitting that stressful point of the semester where classes are starting to wrap up and now everything is getting crammed in at once. From papers, to group projects, to presentations, and the not-to-be-mentioned final exams – it is understandable to be feeling pressure right now as a college student. When I am starting to feel the heat, I like to listen to music to reduce stress and have a little fun. Here are three hip-hop artists that I am enjoying and that you may be too. If not, these are three you must find out about:

1. Kendrick Lamar

Kendrick Lamar is perhaps one of the hottest artists in the genre right now. After releasing four mix-tapes and two albums, he has now skyrocketed in popularity. It seems like every other rapper who wants to make waves at the moment features Kendrick in their songs. He has collaborated with several big names such as A$AP Rocky, 2 Chainz, Drake, Pusha T, and even Eminem and Dr. Dre. His lyrics are intelligent and emotionally charged that paint a picture of a dangerous life living up in the projects of Compton, Los Angeles, and his struggle to rise above it. Deeply personal, as well as lyrically masterful, Kendrick Lamar is on his way up to the top.

2. A$AP Rocky

When A$AP Rocky hit the scene, he hit it hard and hit it fast. After joining the group A$AP Mob (Always Strive and Prosper) his hit single “Peso” was leaked and received some national attention. Soon after, he released a mix-tape titled Live.Love.A$AP and shortly after started his own record label and was named BBC’s Sound of 2012. This Harlem rapper is unique because his music, though popular, doesn’t fit the mold of most New York City rap. The pairing of slow tempo, melodic effects with a pounding, rhythmic base is masterful in quality and mesmerizing in effect.

3. Cal Scruby

With two mix-tapes out and a modest but growing YouTube following, Cal Scruby is one of the freshest and most talented hip-hop artists right now. Hailing from Ohio, some would consider his music to be pop or “frat rap” (white rappers imitating “real rap”) but don’t let that skew your judgment. Cal Scruby’s music can range from hype to relaxing, but his flow is seamless and his hooks are catchy. His lyrics are full of pop culture references and vary between celebratory and positive messages to content regarding the darker sides to life. In my opinion, Cal Scruby is the next Mac Miller and deserves his recognition as Ohio’s rap prodigy.

Hopefully you check out these three artists if you don’t know who they are already. Or, if you are not into hip-hop, listen to whatever music genre you do like to help you relieve stress during this crazy time in the semester.

Not everyone has the opportunity (or may want) to go home this Thanksgiving break. This doesn’t mean you don’t get to celebrate Thanksgiving! If for no other reason, at least celebrate the time off from classes! If this is your first time away from home for Thanksgiving, or you just need some celebration ideas, check out these ideas that are budget-friendly:

1. Potluck Dinner with Roommates

Plan a dinner with your friends who are also staying on campus and make it a potluck! The great thing about this is that you and your friends can have a grand feast like you would have had at home, without dishing out tons of money! It will also be fun to all split up the work and each bring a special dish to the table.

2. Intimate Dinner for Two (or One)

If you aren’t going home for because you want to be alone (or with a certain someone), cook a small dinner that still contains all your Thanksgiving favorites. Instead of cooking an entire turkey, buy a turkey leg or a turkey breast at the supermarket and bake that. Instead of baking a whole pot of sweet potatoes, only buy one or two and make those. You get the idea! Simply cut down all the recipes so that you can have a great Thanksgiving dinner but on a much smaller scale.

3. Parades

If you don’t necessarily want to celebrate with food, celebrate with a parade! No matter where your school is, there is probably some sort of Thanksgiving parade or other Thanksgiving festivities going on in the area! All you have to do is ask around. Grab a bunch of friends and celebrate together.

4. Skype with Family & Friends

If you have family or friends that are back home or friends who decided to go home for the holiday, ask them to get together and Skype with you before or after their Thanksgiving dinners. Seeing everyone won’t make you miss home as much and will probably make it feel more like a Holiday. Friends and family is really what it is all about anyway.

It’s finally November; meaning that the first college semester and quarter of school is nearing its end. If you are like me, you may be burnt out from studying for midterms and exams by now. Don’t stress! Here are three of my favorite tricks to making studying more interesting.

1. The Reward System

I learned this studying trick back when I was in elementary school. My parents used to reward me for completing homework assignments with tasty treats like ice cream or cookies. Luckily, I have continued this habit of rewarding myself after completing long studying sessions since I learned this to be a great motivation tool. Assign yourself a certain amount to study and have your reward waiting right beside you! I usually like to reward myself with things I rarely indulge in, such as a nice Starbucks drink or yummy cupcake treat! Or you could try the most infamous studying incentive – the gummy bear tactic.

2. Study Buddies

Throughout the past four years that I’ve been in school, I’ve really learned to love study groups! Having study buddies livens up the content that you are studying and you learn more when you study together. In previous study group sessions I’ve had, we like to play different games such as Jeopardy, Fact or Fiction, and Hedbanz. My favorite game is Hedbanz in which we use the actual game Hedbanz but replace the game cards with our flashcards. The objective of the game is for the rest of the players to define the word and the person with the word on their forehead has to guess the correct term that is on their flashcard without ever seeing it. You can mix up the rules so that the players have to explain a concept, event, theory – or whatever it is you are studying for – for you to guess.

3. Study While Working Out

I like to download my professor’s lectures and listen to them while I’m working out. If there is no podcast available, then I like to bring my notes or books and read them while I’m biking or on the elliptical. I’ve noticed that because I’m multitasking by running and reading, I really concentrate on reading the material. It really works for me, so give it a try!

Eating well while you’re in school can be a challenge for a myriad of reasons: it’s expensive (I’m looking at you, Whole Foods, you temptress); there aren’t enough hours in the day for extensive prep time; and dorm rooms don’t usually have the necessary appliances to create that gourmet experience.

That’s why BookRenter partnered with ZocDoc to create five healthy, quick meals on the cheap to add variety and protein to your daily food consumption.

Each meal:
• Is less than 500 calories
• Costs under $3 per serving
• Takes 30 minutes or less to make
• Requires only a microwave

These quick and easy ideas are sure to satisfy your hunger pangs, wallet, and other limitations. So get to cooking!

5 Healthy Meals for the College Student – An infographic by the team at ZocDoc and Bookrenter

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5 Healthy Meals for the College Student – An infographic by the team at ZocDoc